":" translates to "Sun Tzu Teaches Deception: The Artful Use of Stratagems in the Art of War"

Author: Shi Zhihua
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: How could Zhang Zhizao in the story instantly recognize the old con artist? It was precisely because he had the awareness of guarding against "deceptive methods" and the sharp insight to see through them. When an honest person walks, their stride is natural, with nothing to hide and nothing to deceive. They are genuine, and their movement is effortless. However, when a thief enters, they do so in a different manner; when a liar appears, they do so in a different way. If you must act secretly, take a look at yourself—you’ll find that everything seems different, even in your walk, you’re hiding something, your stomach is twitching, you’re alert, your eyes are darting around, wondering if someone is watching you, if you’ll be caught? At this moment, your eyes are not normal but strange, your gaze is not sincere but cunning. Your body language—your nonverbal cues—has already painted a more authentic picture of yourself. Zhang Zhizao’s sharp insight to see through "deceptive methods" is exactly like this. So, how did Zhang Zhizao expose and defeat "deceptive methods"? He used three "discarding advantages" actions: , deliberately "taking out silver coins from a small bamboo box and counting them one by one," discarding the advantage of having silver coins; second, deliberately handing the bamboo box containing silver coins to the shopkeeper for safekeeping, discarding the advantage of having a chance to exploit; third, deliberately revealing his father’s "only having a mustache on the left side" as a characteristic, discarding the advantage of a secret. Zhang Zhizao’s three "discarded advantages" lured the old con artist like tightening a screw clockwise three times. The deceived old con artist, without seeking permission or caring about the ridicule of others, personally took the knife and shaved off all his right-side mustache, rushing into the inn in a hurry and eagerly reaching out for the money. Just as the old con artist was about to succeed, he never expected that Zhang Zhizao had set up a "deceptive method within a deceptive method," a "deceptive method" that attacks the unprepared and surprises the unsuspecting, leaving the old con artist humiliated in public like someone whose pants had fallen down. The readers were left cheering like they had just seen a. The old con artist, defeated and shamed, lost the game without winning anything, and this was a victory of the just "deceptive method" over the unjust "deceptive method." "Deceptive methods" are colorless, like water. "Deceptive methods" are colorless—those who use them determine the color of the method; if the user is "red," the method is called "the right way," and if the user is "black," the method becomes "the black way." "Deceptive methods" are like water—water flows by avoiding height and seeking lower ground; victory in battle lies in avoiding solid targets and striking at weaknesses. When "deceptive methods" clash, the "high level" drowns the "low level"; the victory of "deceptive methods" lies in breaking the "" with the "." Zhang Zhizao’s "deceptive method" can truly be said to be: teaching you to "deceive," not just to trick con artists. The world is the world because it has both yin and yang, both high and low, both black and white, and both truth and falsehood. Falsehood can become true because some people cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood. Discerning truth from falsehood relies on sharp insight, and combating falsehood and evil requires intelligence. Li Chong in the story is a clever person, not just clever because of his sharp insight, but even cleverer because he uses "deceptive methods" within intelligence to solve doubts in cases. Let alone Li Chong’s sharp insight in identifying doubts in "conclusive evidence," he even uses "deceptive methods"